Combined fence-post and wire-stretcher



(No Model.)

G. M. WILLIAMS.

. UOMBINED FENCE POST AND WIRE STRBTGHER.

I No. 473,102. Patented Apr. 19,1892.

NITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

GEORGE M. l/VILLIA'MS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COMBINED FENCE-POST AND WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,102, dated April 19, 1892.

Application filed November 30,1891. Serial No. 413.555. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. WILLIAMS, of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Fence-Post and Wire-Stretcher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings-forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in a combined fence-post and wire-stretcher; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as-will be more fully hereinafter described, and designated in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my complete invention applied to a fence. Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross -section through one of the spools forming a part of my invention. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; and Fig. 4: is a vertical section of one of the spools, showing a modification of my invention.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel construction in this class of inventions which will possess advantages in point of inexpensivenes, durability, ease of adjustment,

' and general efficiency.

By the use of my invention the ordinary wire-stretcher commonly employed to take all slack out of the fence-wires is dispensed with and the wires tightly stretched and held in that position without the application of any other device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a metallic fence-post, which is circular in crosssection, the lower end of which is secured in any desirable manner to the ground, and around which post the spools, as hereinafter described, are adapted to-be turned or rotated. To the upper end of the post 1 is secured a collar 2, which is rigidly held to said post by means of a set-screw 3. The collar 2 is provided with lateral ears 4, which are perforated in order to receive one end of the two staywires 5. The opposite ends of said stayrwires are secured in any desirable manner to the ground, but preferably as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The postssuch as 6tl1at are not provided with wire-stretchers are provided with hooks 7, upon which the fence-wires 8 are adapted to rest, and thereby support the same.

Intermediately or at the ends of the fence are located any number of posts-such as l provided with any number of wire-stretchers or spools corresponding to the number of fence-wires employed, whereby all slack may be taken out of the said wires.

The spools whichI employ are all similarly constructed, and therefore I shall only proceed to describe one of them in detail.

9 represents the spool, which is provided with an annular groove 10, in which the fence wire or wires are to be wound, and 11 represents a hook secured within said groove, over which the fence-wire 8 may pass or to which the ends of said fence-wire may be secured. Formed integral with the spool 9 is a square extension 12, which also encircles the post 1. By this construction an ordinary wrench can be applied in order to turn the spool'9 in the operation of my device.

The post 1 is provided with any number of radially-arranged horizontal openings 13, as shown in Fig. 2, which receive the engaging end of the pawl 14, carried by the square extension 12.

15 represents a cavity formed in the extension 12, within which the pawl 14 is pivoted, and also secured within said cavity is a spring 16, the free end of which bears against the said pawls. By this construction when the spool is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow, Fig. 2, the pawl will be elevated or ride over the openings 13; but when tension is brought to bear upon said spool in a reverse direction the said pawl will come in engagement with said openings,and thereby lock the said spool to the post 1.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the spool is rotated or turned the wire at that portion will be wrapped around the spool, thereby taking all slack out of said wire.

17 represents collars which surround the fence-post 1 and are locatedbelow the spools, said collars having plain fiat tops, upon which the same are adapted to rest, and which'collars correspond in number to the number of spools employed. The said collar or collars are held in position upon the post by means of set-screws 18, and therefore the said collars are adjustable on said post.

In Fig. 4r- I show a modification of my invention-nan1e1y, in the construction of the 5 spool-in which'I dispense with the pawl, as previouslydescribed, and in place of the same I form a horizontal opening through the square extension 12 and also a corresponding openingthrough the fence-post, Within which openings a pin 19 is adapted to be passed, and thereby lock the spool to the post when it is desired. Having fully described my invention, what I claim is- A combined fence-post and Wire-stretcher 15 consisting of a post or posts 1, provided with an annular series of openings, spools 9, hav- 

